is it really summer?

Yes, but we are not done half of what I want to do! Grrr!
Olivia is working on CAT2 tests - which are (for those who don't know) the Canadian Acheivement Tests - version 2. She wrote standardized tests like this in Grade 3 as well, let me tell you - if results of standardized tests alone could silence any naysayers about homeschooling - I would volunteer Olivia's. It is absolutely amazing to me...I mean, I know she is pretty smart, but really! Heeheehee! I will fill you in when they are done.

Tomorrow is Canada Day - which means my husband doesn't have to work! Yay for us!

Yesterday we went to Claybank to the Claybank brick plant. It was their annual Heritage Day, so there was a bunch of demonstrations and celebrations. It was fun...well mostly. It was a day not inside the house, full of activities that we don't normally take part in - with MANY other homeschooling families in attendance to say 'hi' to so I will stick with fun...

I wish I had pictures of our day there, but since I don't I will share pics of our last camping trip - back to Buffalo Pound a week ago or so!

Summer is here!
You can tell by the camper and by the butterflies!
If only we were done school!
Oh well, we will finish off this Middle Ages unit whenever it gets done - and then we will have a break before fall. I can't feel too bad about working a little into July if need be - we've had lots of time off this year, a week when friends came to visit - twice!, a month or so at Christmas...I have actually always thought about doing a year-round school model. You know, do school in 6 week sessions with a week or two off after each session - with a little longer break at Christmas and summer. There were a couple of year-round schools that operated like this in Calgary, and it makes a lot of sense. Who really needs 9 weeks off??? It is so hard to get started again with a break like that! It might be better to take 4 weeks off and have the couple of weeks before and a couple of weeks after be 4 day weeks...something to consider anyway.

So yes, we finished off the Ancient Romans, and have moved on to the Middle Ages - just let me tell you - if you are looking for a good book to read aloud to your kids, try the Bronze Bow - it was so great...I can hardly wait to read it again when Amelia and Abbey are older!
Here are some pictures of the girls with their egg-shell mosiacs that they made...




They turned out pretty good.

This unit already has some cool stuff happening - we are growing herbs, and doing science experiments with pinto beans (plants is the focus obviously). We have made bread, soup and Olivia will be starting some calligraphy this week. We are reading aloud The Door in the Wall - which so far is pretty good. The girls will be memorizing smaller sections of scripture in this unit - and Olivia is working on the most commonly misspelled words and letter writing in Language Arts...so watch your mailboxes!

Please pray for Greg's job situation and Abbey has a cardiologist appointment this week as well! Blessings!

Long overdue

But I have been trying to stay off of the computer more than not. I can't seem to get all the things I need and want to do done in a day - so something has to go. I have chosen to limit computer time because once I get down here it seems to take forever to get back upstairs!
Anyway, last night I decided to go for a walk - even though it was raining - and I took Greg's MP3 player with me...what a great time I had, really listening to the music, remembering who it is that God has called me to be! Yay!
A couple of clips of lyrics that affected me greatly...

Covered by your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say "This one's mine"
My heart is spoken for

By the power of the cross
You've taken what was lost
And made it fully yours
And I have been redeemed
By you that spoke to me
Now I am spoken for

Cool, heh? I am spoken for - by the risen Lord...so amazing...why is it that it still affects me so much to be reminded of that? Why do I forget, or not forget, but not walk and live like one who has been redeemed? Amazing!

Then there was this one...

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self

I love that song - just one more reminder that it's really not all about me! No room for me and God...so it needs to be all God...great song...

And there was this one...

I'm not trying to hide anything
I wear it on my sleeve
I wear it on my sleeve
I'm not trying to be something I'm not
This is all I've got
This is all I've got
I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel
Just trying to be real
Trying to be real
I'm not trying to say follow me
I'm not the one who leads
I'm not the one who leads

Let me introduce myself to you
This is who I am
No more, no less
I am just a man who understands
Because of You I'm blessed
No more, no less

This is the one that REALLY was great for me last night - remembering that God is who it is really about - I don't have to wear a mask, or worry - and for those who think Christians are not 'real' - a wake up call! This is who I am - no more, no less! Yay for me!

Anyway, I don't know if any of that blesses you - but it all blessed me last night! All those songs are by Mercy Me and even though I was really wet when I got home last night - I really enjoyed my time outside, I told Greg I felt like I had just gone to church!